The Bangladesh women’s national football team etched their name in history by qualifying for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup finals for the first time, following a stunning 2-1 win over hosts Myanmar at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon on Wednesday.

The Bengal Tigresses, led by a brilliant brace from winger Ritu Porna Chakma, clinched the top spot in Group C with two wins in two games. Their qualification was confirmed after Bahrain and Turkmenistan played out a 2-2 draw later in the evening, ensuring Bangladesh’s unassailable lead regardless of their result against Turkmenistan on Saturday.

Ranked 128th in the FIFA standings—73 places below Myanmar (55th)—Bangladesh defied the odds once again after their 7-0 demolition of Bahrain in the group opener.

Ritu Porna opened the scoring in the 19th minute after reacting quickly to her blocked free-kick and drilling home the rebound with her left foot. She sealed the win in the 72nd minute with a sensational solo effort, intercepting a pass, skipping past a defender, and curling her shot into the far corner.

Despite Myanmar pulling one back through substitute Win Win in the 89th minute, it was too little too late for the hosts.

Bangladesh head coach Peter Butler fielded an unchanged starting XI from the previous match, a decision that paid off with another disciplined and energetic performance.

This groundbreaking qualification is a major milestone for women’s football in Bangladesh, as the national team now prepares for their maiden appearance on Asia’s biggest stage.

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